Rudd puts ALP on full campaign footing

Updated
July 11, 2013 10:06:00

The Prime Minister will address the national press club today about his party's record on the economy, and the economic challenges that face the next term of parliament. At the same time the ALP is in full campaign mode and the states are being asked to nominate candidates for vacant seats or the federal party will intervene.

TONY EASTLEY: The Prime Minister will address the National Press Club today about his party's record on the economy and the economic challenges that face the next term of Parliament.

And he will be alone, with Mr Abbott turning down the offer of a debate.

The Opposition Leader says Mr Rudd should recall Parliament or call an election if he wants to debate.

Joining us now from our studios at Parliament House, is chief political correspondent, Sabra Lane.

Sabra, good morning. In retaking the prime ministership two weeks ago, Kevin Rudd said he wanted MPs to be a little kinder and gentler with one another; is that likely to be on show at the press club today do you think?

SABRA LANE: Oh Tony, yes and no. Mr Rudd will talk about the economic challenges ahead and he'll try and paint himself as an optimist and he'll say that the challenges ahead are entirely manageable and, given the recent rapid decline in terms of trade, he'll say the debate on the economy is a necessity because he'll say any bad decision here could ricochet for a decade.

But he'll attack Mr Abbott for being a formidable politician in the art of negative politics and talking down the economy. Mr Rudd'll say that it's the easiest thing to do, to craft a negative soundbite rather than answer questions of what Mr Abbott would do differently, how much his policies would cost and whether those policies would work.

It'll be interesting though, Tony, to see if Mr Rudd is prepared to spell out whether he's prepared to stick with Wayne Swan's previous plan of a return, returning the nation to surplus given that Mr Rudd's new Cabinet is considering major adjustment to carbon pricing policy and there are continuing budget pressures due to the number of asylum seekers continuing to arrive by boat.

Those two policy areas could put the nation's finances further into the red.

TONY EASTLEY: Sabra, Mr Rudd obviously doesn't want to disclose a date yet for the election, as much as we'd like to know what it is, but are we are seeing that the Labor Party is readying itself for an election, do you think?

SABRA LANE: Yeah, the party certainly is. The party's national executive met yesterday and it's declared that the party is in full campaign footing mode. It met primarily to look at outstanding pre-selections for seats vacated by departing former ministers like the seats held by Craig Emerson, Greg Combet, Simon Crean and the former prime minister, Julia Gillard.

It put off a decision until today as to whether it would intervene in those seats and parachute candidates in to those seats quickly because it doesn't really fit well with Mr Rudd's recent statements about giving party members more say.

It will rankle with the grassroots members if they are not allowed to choose the candidates there. The national secretary, George Wright, was given 24 hours to talk with his state colleagues about how quickly pre-selections could be held in those seats. His report back is due this afternoon when the national executive is due to meet again and it'll make a decision.